The Use of Transitional

Markers

in Writing

What are Transitional Markers?

• They are words and phrases that are used to connect sentences and paragraphs.

• They help ideas flow smoothly from sentence to sentence and from paragraph to paragraph.

• They are also called transitions, transitional words or linking words.

Place of Transitional Markers

• Transitional markers are usually placed at the beginningof sentences and paragraphs, and they are alwaysfollowed by a comma.

Types of Transitional Markers

• Transitional markers can indicate:

• Additions

• Cause & Effect

• Time (Chronology & Order of importance)

• Comparison and Contrast

• Summary & Conclusion

Additions • This type of transitional markers indicate additional ideas,

points and/or arguments as well as more information.

▪ Additionally,

▪ In addition,

▪ Moreover,

▪ Furthermore,

▪ Besides, etc.

• Example 1: Sara is a brilliant student. In addition, she is a responsible mom.

• Example 2: The Ministry of Education is in the process of drafting a new policy that could enhance the quality of tertiary education. Moreover, the policy is believed to address issues of unemployment in the country.

Cause & Effect

• This type of transitional markers indicate causes and effects of things and situations.

▪ As a result,

▪ For this reason,

▪ Consequently,

▪ Hence,

• Example 1: Traffic congestion has become a major problem in Qatar. As a result, the State is considering railway transport as an alternative.

• Example 2: Many people felt strongly about the railway construction saying that it is very expensive. Consequently, the government is forced to call-off the contract for the construction of the railway.

Time

• Transitional markers can also be used to indicate time as wellas order of importance. This includes:

▪ First, firstly, first of all

▪ Second, secondly,

▪ Third, thirdly,

▪ Meanwhile, in the mean time,

▪ Lastly, finally,

▪ Next,

• Example: Firstly, the rail transport system couldreduce the accident rate as it is a safe means oftransportation. Secondly, it could also help peoplesave the running cost of private vehicles.

[Here the transitional markers are used to show the reasons for constructing a rail system based on their order of importance]

Compare and Contrast• Comparisons

Transitional markers that are used to show comparisons include:

▪ Similarly,

▪ Likewise,

▪ In the same way,

▪ Equally,

• Example 1: Nowadays, illegal migration is posing a life-threaton the people who are migrating. Similarly, it is putting aserious economic pressure on the receiving countries.

• Example 2: We can get calcium from milk. Likewise, cheese is a good source of calcium.

• Contrasts

Transitional markers that are used to show contrastsinclude:

▪ In contrast,

▪ However,

▪ Nevertheless,

▪ On the other hand,

• Example 1: In the year 2010, the international price forcoffee export was only $X per kilo. In contrast, by theyear 2014, it had gone up to $Y per kilo.

• Example 2: Exercising has enormous health benefitsbesides its contribution to physical fitness. On the otherhand, it could also have an adverse effect when it isoverdone.

Summary/Conclusion

• Types of transitional markers that indicate a summary or a conclusion include:

▪ In conclusion,

▪ To conclude,

▪ To summarize,

▪ In sum,

▪ Therefore,

• Example 1: To summarize, social media has many negativeconsequences such as weakening people’s real life social skills.

• Example 2: Therefore, as the research findings show, people’swasteful use of water can result in a serious environmentalhazard in the years to come.

Overuse of Transitional markers

• As important as transitional markers are, they should not be overused.

Example: Studying for midterms is challenging. However, thereare techniques that can make the process easier. For example,organize each subject in a folder. Next, create outlines for eachchapter. In addition, organize all handwritten notes and testpapers separately.

• This example uses transition words and phrases in almostevery sentence. This has a tendency to distract your readers,and the use of transitions at the beginning of so manysentences is bothersome to read. In this case, less is more.

…cont’d

• Revised Example

Studying for midterms is challenging. However, there aretechniques that can make the process easier includingorganizing each subject in a folder, creating outlines forchapters, and merging your handwritten notes and testsinto the folders.

Incorrect Use of Transitional Markers

• Incorrect use of transitional markers creates confusion.

• The meaning and function of transitional markers shouldclearly be known before using them

Example:

Oranges are good for health. However, they are good for skin.[Incorrect]

Oranges are good for health. In addition, they are good forskin. [Correct]

Worksheet I.Fill in the blank spaces with the correct transitional marker

As a result First In addition

Similarly However In sum

1. The exam was difficult. ______, we all passed.

2. My cat loves to play with toys. ______, it likes to sleep on my feet.

3. The company is laying off staff. _____, it is closing its branch on Salwa Road.

4. The summer has been exceptionally hot; ______, we couldn’t go swimming as much as we wanted to.

5. Cooking pasta dishes is not that difficult. _____, you should get everything you need ready.

6. ______, the above paragraphs show that there is a strong link between poor diet and a weakened immune system.

Answer key

1. However

2. Similarly

3. In addition

4. As a result

5. First

6. In sum

Worksheet II.

Correct the misused transitions in the following sentences

1. Their mother had a cold; however, the entire family cancelled their boat trip.

2. The book was interesting. As a result, it was hard to read.3. Mariam earned an A on the test. In sum, her friend Iman

earned an A. 4. John and Mark are brothers. John is tall and sportive.

Similarly, Mark is short and chubby.5. We moved the chairs before the rain started. In contrast, we

covered them with plastics in case of leakage.

Answer Key

1. As a result

2. However

3. Similarly

4. In contrast

5. In addition

Worksheet III

Rewrite the paragraph by adding transitionalwords

I work for a private business company. I have a part-time

teaching job at a primary school. I am happy that I have twojobs. My family doesn’t like the fact that I am very busy. Theysay that I don’t have enough time to spend with them. Everytime I get home, almost everyone in the family complains. I havenow decided to give up my part-time job.

Revised

I work for a private business company. In addition, I havea part-time teaching job at a primary school. I am happythat I have two jobs. However, my family doesn’t like thefact that I am very busy. They say that I don’t haveenough time to spend with them. Every time I get home,almost everyone in the family complains. Therefore, Ihave now decided to give up my part-time job.

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